“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”

Strengthen your stakes • The Principles of strong

stakes• The Positioning of our

stakes• The Purpose of our

stakes

1Peter 3:8-18 (The Message)Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here’s what you do: say nothing evil or hurtful; snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.

1Peter 3:8-18 (The Message)God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; but he turns his back on those who do evil things.If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master.

1Peter 3:8-18 (The Message)Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

What type of roots? People hurt us We make mistakes Difficult situations cause

us pain Illness, redundancy,

finances, relationship traumas

Don’t get choked“…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1) Retaliation Revenge Sarcasm Putting people down Cynicism and mockery Contempt and

disrespect

Think about it What areas is the Holy

Spirit bringing to mind right now?

What entangles and binds us from moving forward?

Where are we vulnerable to attack?

How deep do the roots go?

How exposed are they?

Where is our support? Are we planted in good

soil? We need to be staked,

supported and reinforced Buttress

Prevents collapse Provides stability

“…a city quiet and secure. It will be like a tent whose ropes are taut and whose stakes are firmly fixed” (Isaiah 33:20 NTL)

Think about it Where are we linked in? Who speaks into our lives? Who is guarding our backs,

protecting us and underpinning our lives?

How vital are church and small groups to us?

What priority do I put on being with other Christians and in God’s house?